Those Facebook friends that seem to have the perfect life with the flawless husband they adore at all times? Even they face tough times like these.

A big fight over nothing

A big fight over nothing

There are major issues couples commonly squabble over — like sex, money, and kids, all of which we’ll get to in a minute — but if you're going through a rough spot over what seems like nothing at all, you're not alone. "Marriage is a lightning rod that absorbs stress from every source — past and present," says psychologist Harriet Lerner, author of Marriage Rules: A Manual for the Married and the Coupled Up. "When stress gets high enough, even the best couple can look like the most dysfunctional one." Lerner notes that just about anything can turn into an epic battle, including something as insignificant as which knife to use to properly cut a tomato. To stop the stressful cycle, take a deep breath and before your scream, think about whether the knife is really the problem. And if you already blew up, apologize and explain what's actually bothering you before it turns into a bigger issue.

Financial struggles

Financial struggles

Whether or not you believe money is the root of all evil, there's no denying it's responsible for a big chunk of relationship problems. The tough economic climate doesn't help, but even in the best of times, most couples will go through a rough patch. "My husband and I were ready to get married young, and we're still glad we did, but it was definitely a struggle to adjust to managing our finances as a couple while dealing with student loans and finding jobs," says Chelsea S., 27, of Findlay, OH. "Seriously talking about our biggest goal — to purchase our first home together — made us both more willing to make some sacrifices without resenting the shopping or new car we had to give up. It was still tough, but now that we're settled in, we're glad we saved for our life together."